Canadians are stupid

[Esn]

(subject: 2008 Canadian parliamentary dispute)

So apparently, the main reason why Harper's getting all this support now is because the cameraman for the Leader of the Opposition screwed up and Dion's address to the nation video was out-of-focus, while Harper's was nice and crisp. That and because Mr. Dion's first language is French and he mispronounced some English words.

Or at least that's the media narrative.

In which case, Canadians really are shallow and stupid. Forget the substance. Give 'em a crisp suit and a bunch of well-delivered BS and they line up like puppies.

Not that the coalition was particularly smart either, by showing all of their cards to Harper so early. They should've kept everything a secret, then went in for the vote on Monday and BANG, Harper would be out of office; instead, they gave him advance notice so he prorogued (called off) parliament until late January.

I heard someone compare Harper to Emperor Palpatine in Episode III; you think he's down, but just turn your back for a second and he gets back up and kills you with his lighting bolts. Quite an apt analogy to what happened.

Now the Cons are at 45% in the polls and, having a large war chest and being keen students of Republican tactics of information warfare south of the border (calling the other side traitors, etc.), will likely get a majority government next time around.

[Mal]

No shit.

[H@m]

I'd vote for the best looking, prove that you can be more shallow.

[Markham]

I'd vote for the best looking, prove that you can be more shallow.

Voting for the one that bribed you.

[Halowood]

Emporer Palpatine is in parliament in Canadia?

[Esn]

Some pictures for the visual learners among us.

Harper then (before winning election):


Harper now (in the trappings of power):


Dion looking indecisive (as seen in dozens of Conservative tv attack ads and flyers):


Michael Ignatieff plotting to take over Dion's job behind his back (reportedly, he's finally succeeded):


Personally, I don't trust Ignatieff much. Why? Because he plays the game of manipulating the media too well. While this whole coalition thing was playing out, something like five different possible (and contradictory) opinions were attributed to him, usually not directly from him but via some clever "leak" or "rumour". I just have an instinctive distrust of anyone who puts that much thought into playing politics and goes to such efforts to obscure his actual intentions.

[Foster]

Is it really that shallow to want to vote for the party whose candidate looks like less of a tool in each and every public appearance?  I don't think it's about the shoddy video of Dion anyway.  I think it's more about the shady-seeming double deals that have happened to make this coalition a possibility.  I can't believe these three parties thought they could get away with this without alienating many of their voters.  Especially with the inclusion of the Bloc.  Don't they remember the backlash that happened when the Tories tried to get into bed with the Bloc?

I agree that the Conservative party brought this on themselves with their over-assuming budget proposition, but this coalition party should have been put together before the last election, to give Canadians the choice.  Nobody voted for a coalition party, even those who voted for those in the proposed coalition. I can't believe that at least some of the Liberal and NDP MP's aren't livid at the prospect. 

One thing about it, Michaelle Jean is having a rough week.  She's probably the first Governor General in decades that actually had to do something.

[Mal]

If only there were more canadian /b/tards. I could definitely see that last one as the basis for hilarious memes.

[Foster]

Here's the most pertinent commentary of present Canadian politics I've ever seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hfGy_b87gI

[Mal]

Here's the most pertinent commentary of present Canadian politics I've ever seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hfGy_b87gI

Karma for that shit!

The funniest part was when Harper met Dion. Perfect display of the Conservative vs Liberal party mentalities.

[Foster]

Yeah, but the one of Layton was the most perfect impression.  It matched his inflection and his politics perfectly. 

"I'm strong like the Hulk.  I can lift rocks!"
Hehe, so cute when they're young, so terrifying when they're old and can do us harm.

[Esn]

Karma for that shit!

The funniest part was when Harper met Dion. Perfect display of the Conservative vs Liberal party mentalities.

I agree.

I prefer the Liberal mentality, though.

Many of the top people in Harper's government (such as his finance minister Flaherty) are rejects from the former conservative Mike Harris government in the province of Ontario.  And Flaherty cooked the books back then too, to hide the $5 billion deficit that his policies created (a fact that came to light only after his party lost the provincial election in 2003, and the Liberals were allowed to take a closer look at the numbers).

The experience of being in school during the Harris years probably soured me on conservatives for life. In order to pay for his tax cuts for "average folks", he drastically cut services for those who were least able to fight back: the elderly, the disabled, and of course the children.

Anyway, I'm getting off-topic here.

The impression of Layton in that video is indeed the most accurate out of all of them. (for a Green leader, May actually had some very well-thought-out policies, so I think the unicorn thing was the least accurate bit)

[Gray Fox]

If only there were more canadian /b/tards. I could definitely see that last one as the basis for hilarious memes.

Agreed, the top one would probably just end up as "How do I shot web?" or "Lol I dunno"

One thing I find out about this thread, don't all nations do this kindof thing?  You have to admit the majority of the world isn't in the top IQ's.  People get swayed by simple things like a suit or a man screaming "No taxes!" all the time.

[Foster]

The impression of Layton in that video is indeed the most accurate out of all of them. (for a Green leader, May actually had some very well-thought-out policies, so I think the unicorn thing was the least accurate bit)

Yeah, but funny as all hell.  She did split the lefty vote though.

[Esn]

Yeah, but funny as all hell.  She did split the lefty vote though.

Very true, but even so, I think nearly half of her supporters went to the Liberals at the last moment because they realized what was happening (opinion polls showed the Greens above 10% for most of the campaign, but they finally received just 6.8% of the vote on election day). If it were not for the Greens and some NDP voters who again switched at the last minute, the Liberals would have done a lot worse.

Anyway, it's now official; Bob Rae dropped out of the race, and Michael Ignatieff is the new Liberal leader.